Ashli’s face wasn’t just red because of the sun now. “I –”

“I want a paternity test,” Joey said. “If the baby is mine, I want to be in its life.”

“Did you cheat on me?” Tad asked, his nostrils flaring and cheeks going an alarming shade of red.

“I –” Tears tumbled down Ashli’s cheeks. “You wouldn’t leave her. You promised me you would, and you didn’t. It was only a few times, Joey and me. And we used condoms.”

“Except for that one time in my truck,” Joey added, unhelpfully.

She glared at him.

Jagger giggled, then hid it with a cough and covered his mouth with his fist.

Like the man was playing connect the dots in his head, Tad’s pale-blue eyes grew wider and wider until the lightbulb flicked on and rivaled the sun. “You got an amnio a few weeks ago. You said it was because of some genetic disorder in your family. Was it actually for a paternity test?”

Now the tears fell like a monsoon down Ashli’s cheeks, streaking through her thick foundation.

“Am I even the father?” Tad asked, his voice hollow.

Ashli was now hyperventilating. But nobody moved to help her. “I … I wanted it to be you.” She turned to Tad, her hand on her chest as it rose and fell rapidly. “I wanted it to be you so badly. You’re the better choice for a husband and father. And I thought … I just thought that once you met him, you wouldn’t care, even if you did find out.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” Joey barked. “Am I fucking trailer trash to you or something?

“This is over,” Tad said, stalking back down the aisle.

“Tad, please,” Ashli called, reaching for him, but he shook her off. “Tad, no. Please!” Her gaze slid to Joey, who was just shaking his head, a crushed look on his face.

“I want to be in my kid’s life,” Joey choked out. “But not yours now that I know what you really think of me.” Then he turned, with a hung head, and made his way back around the pub.

Ashli stood at the altar, bawling, on her knees with her face in her hands as the Maid of Honor, Best Man, and minister all stood there stunned.

“Well, I guess we need to figure out what to do with all this food and booze,” Jagger said with a big shit-eating grin on his face. “I’m thinking … party?”

Jagger might have been thinking “party,” but Bennett was only thinking of Justine.

Not only did she need to hear it from him in person that the wedding of the damned wasn’t going to happen and she could return to the property—to him—at anytime, but he also needed to tell her how big of an idiot he was.

Who cared that they’d only known each other for two weeks? It was two of the happiest, most wonderful two weeks he’d had in a very long time. He adored her. His girls adored her. And just like she was working on taking risks, like Emme was working on taking risks, maybe Bennett needed to do the same. Because jumping into a new relationship after the death of a spouse was going to have its challenges. But when you found someone who was worth the risk like Justine was worth the risk, you didn’t just sit idly by and let them leave. You fought for that new joy they brought into your life. And she brought so much joy.

He would help her find a place—maybe his—or if she wanted to take it slow, he’d help her find somewhere to stay. Either cabin five, or they’d rent or buy a different RV. But whatever it took to help her achieve her dream of moving to the island, he’d help her. Because he and his brothers had a dream too. To raise their children on the island, and they achieved that dream. Why shouldn’t Justine get to achieve that dream as well?

He glanced at Jagger. “I need to go.”

“Seeing two terrible people get what they deserve make you realize what you deserve?” he asked with a smirk. “Is that what it takes for you to have your come to Jesus moment?”

“I guess so.” He took off toward his truck.

It wasn’t so much about what he deserved. But what Justine deserved. And that was joy. That was peace. That was her dreams coming true.

Hopefully, he wasn’t too late, and maybe, just maybe, those dreams also included him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“Well, I think that might have been the best massage of my life,” Brooke said, sipping her mimosa as she and Justine sat in the serene Japanese garden inspired patio of the spa.

They’d gone to sunrise yoga that morning, followed by facials, pedicures, the thermal spa, seaweed scrub, and finally, the most relaxing full-body, deep tissue massage Justine had ever had. She had to agree with Brooke, it was probably the best of her life too.

Nodding, she lifted up her own flute of champagne and orange juice and clinked it against Brooke’s. “Thank you. I really needed this.”